Can Good Bacteria Really Fight the Flu?

Cold and flu sufferers, there may be a way to head off those irritating symptoms before they cause you to miss work or school.

New evidence suggests that probiotics -- good bacteria that can aid immune function -- can have a preventive effect for cold and flu viruses.

In a study sponsored by Danisco, a Danish nutritional supplement company that makes probiotics products, researchers found that a six-month course of probiotics was a safe and effective way to ward off flu symptoms and reduce their duration in 3- to 5-year-olds.